Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Condemned?
Next Post: Caption contest!
Posted in:
* Sen. Mike Frerichs was asked about the Giannoulias endorsement today…
* Transcript…
Host: “Former Democratic State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias recently actually endorsing your opponent, Tom Cross. He said, among other things, ‘I do appreciate the fact that Tom Cross has done his homework on the office of Treasurer.’ He also said ‘I’ve known Tom Cross for awhile, I think he has courage.’ Were you surprised by a Democrat, Alexi Giannoulias, endorsing your opponent?”
Mike Frerichs: “Change is hard. We’ve promised to come in, and clean up this office. One of the things we want to do, we want to make sure that when families are saving for their children’s education, those dollars are safeguarded. Tom Cross thinks the last two Treasurers have done a great job. They’ve used that office as a stepping stone, and taken their eye off the real responsibilities of the Treasurer’s office.
“I’m a certified public finance officer. I have experience in government finance, unlike my opponent. He’s a lawyer who wants to come in and sue people. We’re not going to grow our economy by suing people. We’re not going to improve our office by doing the same tried (sic, “tired”?) things that have been done in the past. We’re going to come in and shake things up.”
The education thing refers to Giannoulias’ “Bright Start” college savings plan debacle.
But, as I’ve already told subscribers, Frerichs tried reaching out to Giannoulias several times without success. He wanted that endorsement.
Also, while I get his point about “suing people,” suing over an unbalanced budget wouldn’t necessarily hurt the economy. Nice line, though.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:48 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Condemned?
Next Post: Caption contest!
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Now, Frerichs is going after Comptroller Topinka. Treasurer Rutherford, and running against Tom Cross.
Senator,
Pick one opponent. Dragging the last two officeholders in a race for an open seat with a candidate you can take to task, why jumble all this up?
Focus.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:53 pm
Slick shot at Giannoulias, with the mention of kids’ education.
Comment by walker Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:54 pm
@ OW…
The last 2 Treasurer’s he is referring to are Alexi and Rutherford.
Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:56 pm
Meant GOP…apologies, and isn’t Frerichs already taking on Alexi, that was what prompted the lineage.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:58 pm
@ OW
Not sure…but I do remember opening up my kid’s Bright Start quarterly statements and being real unhappy during most of Alexi’s tenure as treasurer.
Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 3:03 pm
I’m sure Tom Cross will trumpet his Alexi endorsement, especially after all those things the GOP said about how great Alexi was in 2010. Oh wait…
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 3:14 pm
Senator Frerichs should just say, “We reached out to Mr. Giannoulias and he did not return our calls. Am I upset? Yes. But life moves on and I have a campaign to win.”
What is God’s awesome name is wrong with showing a little contriteness and humility every once in a while? Voters actually like that.
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 3:15 pm
just so i’m clear, the Frerichs plan here was to relentlessly pursue the Alexi endorsement and then trash him when they don’t get it.
Me thinks they need a new plan.
Comment by Barney Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 3:21 pm
…..Shake things up, huh.
Comment by Jackson and Laflin Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 3:28 pm
Oh good. So the interest you earn on a BrightStart account under the Frerichs plan will be worth about as much as the locals earn through Illinois Funds. No thanks. I can invest in my own CD without paying Oppenheimer a fee, and use the money as I want instead of abide by the definitions of “educational expense.”
How can he change Bright Start? It’s an account created in the FEDERAL tax code.
He probably doesn’t mean to do anything beyond zing Alexi, but c’mon, man.
Comment by Dirty Red Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 3:43 pm
Try a little tenderness, Big Mike. You might just like voters respond to it.
The bitterness is so against his brand. So far, he’s tried to pass himself off as a “good old Southern Illinois guy. the buck stops here/I’m just here to help!” Democrat, and now his true colors are showing.
Comment by George Snorewell Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 3:54 pm
Wow, doesn’t Mike know there’s no crying in baseball?
If he’s so worried about Alexi and Rutherford, that’s gotta be a win for Cross. It is Cross that is up 10 on you Mikey, not Alexi and Rutherford. Incompetent campaign, or oversensitive candidate?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 4:22 pm
He is going to come in and “Shake Things Up?”
I thought Rauner was going to do that first!
Crazy election!
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 4:25 pm
Mike, I’m quite sure Rainer has cornered the “shake things up” message. What’s next… giving the Rauner thumbs up sign?
Comment by hanging chad Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 4:36 pm
Well, there goes the Russian mob vote.
Comment by Homer Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 4:50 pm
I thought Frerichs response was pretty mild, although I only read it, I didn’t see video yet.
He was much nicer to Alexi than Kirk was four years ago.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 6:09 pm